His paintings adorn the walls of art collectors and galleries all over the world. His work is admired by statesmen and enthusiasts far and wide. On a perfect day in August, I found myself in the company of Gbolade Omidiran- artist of great talent and extraordinary success. Read the rest of this entry »

Much has been written about the sacred status of Ile -ife; “the cradle” of the Yoruba race.There are myths and legends, there is history and folklore, there is a cultural earnestness which permeates every day living in this ancient city.

I was drawn to Akire Temple at Ilare compound. In the summer of 2017, the University of African Art brought its GownTown initiative to Ile-Ife. Led by Prof Moyo Okediji and Dr Oluseyi Ogunjobi, Akire Temple became a location for a workshop on art.

Images of men, women and children engaging with traditional skills; preparing indigo dye for adire textiles, using natural pigments to paint and collaborate on artwork was inspiring to see.

And so it was. I spent an afternoon at Akire Temple with Oba Akire and Olori Aderonke.

The conversations were lively. We spoke about the history of Orisha Akire and it’s relevance for the people of Ile-Ife and the descendants of Akire all over the world.

I was fascinated by the visual artistic display all around me. Beautifully bright traditional textiles: Adire Eleko, Adire Kiko, Adire Alabere, painting on fabrics and the cosmic wall murals and sand paintings.

A temple dedicated to the practice of Yoruba traditional religion used as an artistic, social and cultural space was a dynamic idea. It reinforced for me the view that Yoruba traditional religion and the expression of Yoruba culture are often inseparable. I scrutinized the murals on the shrine walls.

These are sacred paintings. They reflect the deep observational nature of the Yoruba people and the importance of symbolic motifs. Traditionally done by a guild of women shrine painters of Akire shrine, these small and large symbols, shapes, and geometric designs filled the outer walls of Akire shrine.

Ile Ife is a spiritual place. Everywhere you look, from the palace to the ancient groves, Yoruba culture is profuse. You see it in the festivals, the monuments dotted around the town and the symbolic objects which resonate with meaning and reverence.

However, through reclaiming sacred spaces like Akire temple for artistic and cultural activities, we create opportunities for even more awareness of the richness of Yoruba heritage and indigenous knowledge.

It is important to value what we have.

Opportunities which knit together indigenous artistic knowledge and traditional religion acts like culture conduits. They connect women, men and entire families to their Yoruba lineage, ancestry, heritage and identity.

Everyday there are worlds waiting to be found. If you are persistent and with a bit of luck, you may find a few exceptional ones. In a quiet corner of Ibadan, I found Tunde Odunlade.

Criss-crossing the sprawling city, It took a while to find him, but we did. We were swept into the hands of an artist totally involved with the idea of ” art with a purpose in nation building”.

He welcomed us like old friends and we wandered into his world without walls.

Warm, witty, intelligent, creative and erudite, Odunlade is an exceptional artist and a charming host. An Ife prince, Odunlade moved from Ile-Ife to Ibadan in the 70’s.

With over 42 years as a successful textile and fiber art specialist, his style is engaging and diverse. Floatographs. Bartiking, marbling caligraphy and Adire. Beading on textiles and beaded appliqués. But there is more.

Intricate and intriguing, Odunlade wants you to enjoy the beauty and creativity in his soul but not without thinking about yours.

We talked about “Oju Inu, agba oye” , Odunlade’s upcoming exhibition at University of Ibadan’s Institute of African Studies on the end of August 2017.

This exhibition takes as its premise the Yoruba proverb : “Oye lagba wo, iriri sagba ohun gbogbo” which means the elderly seeks first to understand while experience supersedes all things.

Hence, ” Oju inu, agba Oye” takes us on a journey. It examines the indigenous knowledge of the Yoruba people passed down through the generations in proverbs, idioms, folklore and traditional skills such as Adire . This knowledge is enriching, the basis for the understanding and value of self.

With pieces like “Oya goddess of the wind” and “Oduduwa”, the examination of Yoruba mythology and heritage is inherent in many of the pieces.

When you consume Odunlade’s art, you must engage with your social, and political consciousness- your place and purpose in society. Each piece evoked particular ideas. The failure of the Nigerian state. Underdevelopment in Africa. The colonial legacy. Yoruba history and Heritage. Karma and consciousness.

Very quickly, I realised that I would have to keep up with the dexterity of Odunlade’s intellect and prolific creativity.

This art has travelled the world. Odunlade had shared his vision with audiences at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Jordan museum of Art and many more.

His work resonates.

It draws attention by its range of techniques, its beauty and its embedded narratives. For a few hours, I was driven into a world of absolute synergy between artist and his art.

Beyond aesthetics, Odunlade wants you affected. This is not art for the fun of it. This is art that speaks to you about your intentions, motivations and your everyday interactions with the world in which you live.

I am glad Tunde Odunlade invited me to his home and allowed me to travel with him into his visionary world.

Gbemisola street in Ikeja is very much like any residential street in Lagos. Left and right, houses stand loosely together, interrupted here and there by wooden shops selling a multitude of wares. Then you arrive.
Kalakuta Museum.

Home to the legendary Fela Anikulapo for 31 years, now a museum, kalakuta shares with the public carefully curated snippets of Fela’s personal life, music and politics.

Today, I am a guest in Fela’s home.I was excited. I didn’t know quite what to expect.

Like many of my generation, Fela’s voice, lyrics and roguishness was the draw.

I followed his antics, feverishly read the sensational stories in the newspapers; arrests and re-arrests, rebellion and political activism.

I wandered inside. Cool open spaces. Shadowy walls lit beautifully, covered with pictures of a life lived with such exuberance and much intensity.

Fela’s stairs, bedroom, flamboyant shirts, glamorous shoes, outlandish fur coat, life on stage and the beautiful people who made his life complete.

The sunlight poured down the high ceiling. I was transfixed. Family portraits carefully lined the walls. I followed the narratives up the elegant spiral stairs.

Like many of my university friends in the 80s, I gyrated to Fela’s pulsing music and shouted out his provocative lyrics. I was fascinated by his lifestyle and intrigued by his outlandish exterior.

Pelumi who showed me around was far too young to even visualise my memories but we both agreed on one thing:
” Fela get message pass today’s musicians”

Importantly, these messages continue to thump off these walls on Wednesdays when Seun Kuti rehearses with his band in Kalakuta.
That almost brought tears welling up. The spirit of Kalakuta is alive and well.

Perhaps it was the light flooding down from the ceiling.

Perhaps it was the life beaming back from the walls, kalakuta didn’t feel dead and dusty.

For a few hours, I was transported completely. Each piece, each picture, each newsprint felt lovingly curated, placed exactly in its place so I could find it today.

In many ways, wether you knew Fela or not, this house must be on your bucket list of places to visit in Lagos.

It tells a story of not just one man and his life but a story of life and living it.

Under the hexagon headstone rests the remains of the great Fela Anikulapo Kuti. A poignant resting place underneath the balcony where he would have looked outside onto Gbemisola street everyday.

I was warmed by the twinkle in her eyes. Playful and assured, Iya Alakun cajoled me to buy even more beads as she spoke of the significance of “akun” in the culture of the Yoruba people. I sat down. Read the rest of this entry »

Elegantly symmetrical lines of black and white pigment, perfectly formed spirals and the striking pink background of the walls and pillars . I was not prepared for all this beauty. The walls cast an ambiance; soft, alluring and feminine. Read the rest of this entry »

Traditional architecture is an integral part of how people construct a sense of interrelatedness with their physical environment. These buildings tell of the history, culture, customs and religious beliefs which are intrinsic to a community`s sense of identity. Read the rest of this entry »

“Muyi shi Gwari Gwari” a popular Hausa expression means-let’s do it like the Gbagyi or in the Gbagyi way.

This sums up the temperament of the Gbayi people, an hospitable, indigenous community who live very much in harmony with their natural environment. 45km from the city of Abuja, is Ushafa village, home to the Gbayi people of Northern Nigeria.

Big, bold forms in dazzling colour depict human emotions and activity with a skilful touch. A subtle bled of colours set within a collaboration of creative themes. The work of Emmanuel Anaiye Ifebunmi – the DWebArtist -Web consultant and contemporary Nigerian artist.
DWebartist exemplifies an emerging new breed. A wave of exciting, talented, vibrant, young Nigerians. Men and women in all spheres of work: Music, Media, Film, Literature, Culinary Arts, Ict, Online Retail and Contemporary Visual Arts. Despite the odds, these individuals are making things happen and successfully pursuing their passions.They have totally embraced the digital world. King and queens of social media, they completely understand the access to information and the global audience it brings. They own their businesses and market their products. They are experimental and creative with an astute business mind., They are confident, resilient and work twice as hard as everybody else. Like his contemporaries, Emmanuel’s vision for himself and his artistic ambitions are far reaching and constantly evolving .

Who is DWebartist?Emmanuel’s passion for art was reignited in the ancient town of Ile-Ife. In 2012, he worked under the tutorage of the great artist and teacher Mr Gbolade Omidiran. This was the unveiling. The world of serious, contemporary art was a revelation. Galleries. Exhibitions. Collectors. Professional artists. The beauty, creativity and the endless possibilities opened up.

Of what inspires him, Emmanuel says: “It flows through my veins as I create art that connects with my thoughts.”

This synchronised dynamism between observation, ideas, expression and the creation of art is one which ensures that Dwebartist makes art nonstop. Working with acrylic on canvas, wood and plastic collage, Dwebartist has a growing clientele and a compelling gallery of work.

And there is more.

Versatility is the new golden skill required in this ever changing and unpredictable world. In a country like Nigeria, where self help is usually the only help you get, these young entrepreneurs understand the power of being versatile and adaptable. DwebArtist is no exception.
Emmanuel is CEO of EclubHost, a web consultant outfit highly sought after for its professional services and expertise in website development and support.
EclubHost works with online business start ups, bloggers, artists and anyone who wants to create a bespoke website to reach a wider audience.
This actually is how I met Emmanuel. In 2014. Osupa.me needed a mobile platform. DWebartist took up the challenge.
How we fill the hours each day is crucial. For most of us, we work in order to look after ourselves and our responsibilities. Sometimes we are lucky to have a choice in what work we do and then work becomes a deeply fulfilling experience.
The consistent pattern for these young entrepreneurs is the passion with which they are driven in what they do. To choose to make a living as a contemporary artist in Nigeria takes guts. It is inspiring to see what sheer belief, talent and tenacity can achieve.
As Tom Landry observed: “being the best at whatever talent you have, that’s what stimulates life. It is clear from this amazing array of art that Dwebartist is doing what he does best. His talent speaks to us from every piece.

Bashorun Gaa; the tragic hero of Yoruba mythology was one of the most formidable kings of the old Oyo Empire. This character conveyed in many ways my childhood fascination for the mythical, almost unbelievable ancestry of the Yorubas. Read the rest of this entry »